US7306485B2 - Waterproof device - Google Patents

Abstract

A waterproof device includes a first housing member for covering a front portion of a connector from which a cable extends rearwardly; an elastic member for covering at least a portion of the cable; a cylindrical second housing member attached to the first housing member such that it covers and presses the elastic member against the cable; and a third housing member detachably attached to the first housing member so as to press the second housing member against the first housing member such that the second housing member covers a rear portion of the connector.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to waterproof devices and, particularly, to a waterproof add-on to a connector to which a cable has been connected.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese utility patent application Kokai No. 06-33107 discloses a waterproof device for waterproofing a connector.FIG. 5 shows such a waterproofing device. Thiswaterproof device5 includes asealing member140, awaterproof housing160, and an O-ring180. This is a board fixed type device. To attach it, acable14 is put through thewaterproof housing160 and theseal member140 andscrews190 are driven intoholes102 in aboard100 throughholes176 of thewaterproof housing160 such that thewaterproof housing160 is closed from inside by theseal member140 and the O-ring180 is pressed against theboard100. To remove thewaterproof device5, it is necessary to remove thescrews190 from theboard100, and it takes time to attach or detach a connector. Where theholes102 are closed with an adhesive to waterproof them, it becomes difficult to remove thewaterproof device5.

To assure fitting between connector components, it is necessary to position accurately thescrew holes102 and amating connector120. If themating connector120 is shifted from a fitting opening110, close contact between theseal member140 and thewaterproof housing160 is not guaranteed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a waterproof device that allows easy removal from a panel or the like after waterproofing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a waterproof device that assures accurate fitting between a pair of connectors and waterproofing the connectors.

According to the invention there is provided A waterproof device comprising a first housing member for covering a front portion of a connector from which a cable extends rearwardly; an elastic member for covering at least a portion of the cable; a cylindrical second housing member attached to the first housing member such that it covers and presses the elastic member against the cable; and a third housing member detachably attached to the first housing member so as to press the second housing member against the first housing member such that the second housing member covers a rear portion of the connector.

The second housing member is movable toward the first housing member along the cable; the third housing member is movable toward the first housing member along the cable together with the second housing member and fixed to the first housing member against an elastic force of the elastic member. The cylindrical second housing member may have a tailing section having gradually reduced diameter so that when the second housing member is moved toward the first housing member, the tailing section contracts a rear portion of the elastic member, thus pressing the rear portion against the cable.

The elastic member may have a substantially constant diameter cylindrical form that has a slit along its longitudinal direction and a central bore shaped correspondingly to the cable. The second housing member may be provided with waterproof means for closing a gap between the first and second housing member.

The waterproof means may be a ring shaped member fitted in a groove provided in a front portion of the second housing member. The second housing member may be provided with a rearwardly facing step and the third housing member may be provided with a forwardly facing step such that the rearwardly facing step abuts against the forwardly facing step to engage the second and third housing members.

The second housing member may be provided with a rearwardly facing section and the third housing member may be provided with an abutment face extending toward a center such that the rearwardly facing section abuts against the abutment face to engage the second and third housing members. The third housing member may be bayonet-connected to the first housing member.

The connector may consist of a first connector component to which the cable is connected and a second connector component detachably fitted into the first connector component. The elastic member may be attached to the first connector component. The first housing member may be attached to the second connector component. The first connector component may be fitted into the second connector component before the second and third housing members are detachably attached to the first housing member.

According to the invention, there is provided a waterproof device that is attachable to a connector to which a cable has been connected and, after waterproofing, enables to detach the connector from a panel or the like without difficulty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is an exploded side view of a waterproof device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1(b) is a front view of a housing for the waterproof device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the waterproof device attached to an optical connector;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a waterproof device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a waterproof device according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional waterproof device

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

InFIG. 1(a), an optical connector2 includes afirst connector component11 and asecond connector component12 that is detachably fitted into thefirst connector component11. Thefirst connector component11 includes abody section13, acable14 extending rearwardly from thebody section13, and abooth19 to cover a portion of thecable14. Thecable14 has a circular cross-section but may take a square cross-section such as a drop cable. The front end ofcable14 is connected to aferrule15, a portion of which projects forwardly from thebody section13. Thesecond connector component12 has a pair of substantially identical members so that thefirst connector component11 may fit into it from both sides. An aperture is provided in the center thereof so that onefirst connector component11 is fitted into the aperture from one side and anotherfirst connector component11 is fitted into the aperture from the other side. Theferrules15 of thefirst connector components11 are abutted against each other in thesecond connector component12 for connection.

Thewaterproof device1 for the optical connector2 includes a first housing member or a substantially cylindricalreceptive housing20, a second housing member or a substantiallycylindrical hood member50, a third housing member or a substantiallycylindrical coupling member80, and acylindrical seal member90. Thereceptive housing20,hood member50, andcoupling member80 are made of a relatively hard plastic resin while theseal member90 is made of a relatively soft material such as rubber having low friction coefficient. Alternatively, theseal member90 may take a corn shape.

To attach thewaterproof device1 to the optical connector2, first of all, thesecond connector component12 is put in thereceptive housing20 such that the front portion of the optical connector2 will be covered by thereceptive housing12. Aflange17 is provided on thesecond connector component12 such that it fits in anindentation22 with anabutment face34 in thereceptive housing20. That is, thesecond connector component12 is inserted into thereceptive housing20 in the direction of arrow A inFIG. 1 such that theflange17 abuts against theabutment face34. Consequently, the rear portion of thesecond connector component12 is supported by thereceptive housing20. The front portion of thesecond connector component12 is supported by either aboard4 of equipment (FIG. 2) or anotherreceptive housing20 of a mating connector. That is, thewaterproof device1 is useful as either a board fixed type or cascade link type. For the board fixed type, the O-ringwaterproof packing21 is put in agroove42 in aflange35 of thereceptive housing20, as shown inFIG. 1(b), and theflange35 withscrew holes32 is screwed to theboard4. Alternatively, thetip37 of aleaf spring18, which is cantilevered on thesecond connector component12, abuts against theboard4 so that thesecond connector component12 is attached to theboard4.

After thesecond connector component12 is attached to thereceptive housing20, thefirst connector component11 is fitted into the second connector component in the direction of arrow B, with thecable14 put through thecoupling member80 and thehood member50. Acutout16 of thesecond connector component12 and acutout29 of thereceptive housing20 are situated at the same position so that thefirst connector component11 is readily fitted into thesecond connector component12 by moving aprojection95 of thefirst connector component11 in thecutout29 in the B direction.

After thefirst connector component11 is fitted into thesecond connector component12, theseal member90 is attached to thefirst connector component11 from side in the C direction to cover thebooth19 and a portion of thecable14. Alternatively, theseal member90 may be attached before thefirst connector component11 is fitted into thesecond connector component12. Thecentral portion91 of theseal member90 is made according to the shape of thecable14 so that theseal member90 closely covers thecable14. Theseal member90 is provided with aslit96 so that theseal member90 can be attached to thefirst connector component11 from side by opening theslit90 and abutting theabutment section92 of theseal member90 against thecable exiting section93 of thefirst connector component11. Alternatively, theseal member90 may be cut into halves longitudinally instead of the provision of a slit.

Then, thehood member50, which has been provided on thefirst connector component11, is moved in the D direction so that the front end of thehood member50 abuts against thereceptive housing20 and, thus, thehood member50 covers thebody section13 of thefirst connector component11 and theentire seal member90.

Finally, thecoupling member80 is moved along thehood member50 in the D direction and attached to thereceptive housing20. At this point, thehood member50 engages with thecoupling member80 so that thehood member50 is moved to thereceptive housing20 and fixed by thecoupling member80. Consequently, thehood member50, thecoupling member80, and theseal member90 are fixed to thereceptive housing20 as a unit.

Thereceptive housing20 has a relatively short cylindrical form and covers the front portion of a connector for waterproofing. Specifically, when thefirst connector component11 is fitted into thesecond connector component12, thereceptive housing20 covers a half of thesecond connector component12 and the front portion of thefirst connector component11. Thereceptive housing20 has a steppedsection23 and aninclined section24 on its inside to form an annular small-diameter section25, a medium-diameter section26, and a large-diameter section27. An L-shapedcutout29 is provided in thereceptive housing20 for bayonet connection with thecoupling member80.

Thehood member50 has a relatively long cylindrical form having asmall step section51 and alarge step section52 to provide a large-diameter section54, a medium-diameter section55, and a relatively long, small-diameter section56. Thehood member50 has a gradually contracting tail section. When thehood member50 is attached to thereceptive housing20, the large-diameter section54 and the medium-diameter section55 are covered by thereceptive housing20 such that the front and rear ends of the large-diameter section54 are situated near the small-diameter section25 and the medium-diameter section26 of thereceptive housing20, respectively, and the medium-diameter55 is near the large-diameter section27 of thereceptive housing20. Especially, the front end of the large-diameter section54 is inserted into thereceptive housing20 with no gap, thereby preventing loose connection between thereceptive housing20 and thehood member50. Anannular groove57 is provided on the large-diameter section54 to receive awaterproof packing28, such as an O-ring, which completely closes a gap between the medium-diameter section26 of thereceptive housing20 and the large-diameter section54 of thehood member50, thus preventing water from entering the equipment.

A steeplyinclined section58 is provided on the inside of thehood member50 between thesmall step section51 and thelarge step section52. The steeplyinclined section58 links alarge diameter section60 that covers the rear portion of thesecond connector component12 and thebody section13 of thefirst connector component11 and asmall diameter section61 that covers theseal member90. A gentlyinclined section59 extends rearwardly from thesmall diameter section61 to provide an inside diameter less than a corresponding outside diameter of theseal member90. Consequently, the gentlyinclined section59 comes into close contact with therear section98 of theseal member90. When thehood member50 is attached thereceptive housing20, thehood member50 presses theseal member90 in the D direction with the close contact between the gentlyinclined section59 and therear section98 of theseal member90 while it contracts an end portion of theseal member90 in the E direction. As a result, theseal member90 is pressed against thecable14 by thehood member50, thus providing a hermetical seal near its rear end. The abutment face92 of theseal member90 abuts against thecable exiting section93 of thefirst connector component11 so that the pressure on theseal member90 by thehood member50 is applied to thebody section13 of thefirst connector component11. This pressure is used to press thefirst connector component11 against thesecond connector component12. That is, it reinforces the fitting between the first andsecond connector components11 and12.

Thecoupling member80 has a relatively short cylindrical form and has an engagingstep81, forming a frontthinner section82 and a rearthicker section83. When thecoupling member80 is attached to thereceptive housing20, thethinner section82 is supported in a gap between thelarge diameter section27 of thereceptive housing20 and themedium diameter section55 of thehood member50 while the engagingstep81 of thecoupling member80 abuts against thelarge step52 of thehood member50 so that thehood member50 is moved toward thehousing20 by thecoupling member80. Aprojection84 is provided on thecoupling member80 corresponding to the L-shapedcutout29 of thereceptive housing20. Thecoupling member80 is bayonet connected to thereceptive housing20 by inserting theprojection84 into the L-shapedcutout29 and pushing thecoupling member80 in the F direction and rotating it in the G direction to place theprojection84 in thecircular recess33 of thecutout29. The bayonet connection can be made with a substantially constant force to eliminate the delicate application of force in such a case as screw connection. Also, it can be made while thecoupling member80 and thereceptive housing20 are spaced at a constant distance. When theproject84 of thecoupling member80 is moved straightly along thecutout29 of thereceptive housing20, thehood member50 receives an elastic force from theseal member90 via the engagement between thelarge step52 of thehood member50 and the engagingstep81 of thecoupling member80. This elastic force biases theprojection84 against therecess33, thus assuring the bayonet connection.

InFIG. 3, according to the second embodiment of the invention, no annular groove, such as the one57 inFIG. 2, is provided in asmall diameter section25A of ahood member50A. Consequently, thewaterproof packing28 is disposed on the front portion of thelarge diameter section54A between thelarge diameter section54A and thesmall diameter section25A. Even if thewaterproof packing28 is not accurately positioned, it can perform the waterproof function. The no groove structure eliminates the need for such an inclined face as thestep section23 inFIG. 2, thus simplifying the metal mold and reducing the manufacturing cost.

InFIG. 4, according to the third embodiment of the invention, awide ring30 having a rectangular cross-section is used for thewaterproof packing28. It is fitted in arecess44 provided on the front portion of thereceptive housing20B and pressed forwardly by thefront end62 of thehood member50. Theedge39 of anannular projection38 is tapered at40 so as to facilitate insertion of alarge diameter section54B into therecess44. Arear support section85 extends inwardly from the rear end of acoupling member80B, replacing thelarge diameter step52 or engagingstep81 of the first or second embodiment. Thecoupling member80B is attached to thereceptive housing20B by pressing therear support section85 against therear edge63 of thehood member50B. Aprojection86 of thecoupling member80B is fitted into ahole41 of thereceptive housing20B for detachable attachment. Alternatively, the bayonet connection may be used as in the first and second embodiments. The waterproof device according to the invention may be applied to an electrical connector as well as an optical connector.

Claims (10)

1. A waterproof device comprising:

a first housing member for covering a front portion of a connector from which a cable extends rearwardly;

an elastic member for covering at least a portion of said cable;

a cylindrical second housing member attached to said first housing member such that it covers and presses said elastic member against said cable; and

a third housing member detachably attached to said first housing member so as to press said second housing member against said first housing member such that said second housing member covers a rear portion of said connector.

2. The waterproof device according toclaim 1, wherein said elastic member has a substantially constant diameter cylindrical form that has a slit along its longitudinal direction and a central bore shaped correspondingly to the cable.

3. The waterproof device according toclaim 1, wherein said third housing member is bayonet-connected to said first housing member.

4. The waterproof device according toclaim 1, wherein said connector consists of a first connector component to which said cable is connected and a second connector component detachably fitted into said first connector component; said elastic member attached to said first connector component; said first housing member attached to said second connector component; and said first connector component fitted into said second connector component before said second and third housing members are detachably attached to said first housing member.

5. The waterproof device according toclaim 1, wherein said second housing member is movable toward said first housing member along said cable;

said third housing member is movable toward said first housing member along said cable together with said second housing member and fixed to said first housing member against an elastic force of said elastic member.

6. The waterproof device according toclaim 5, wherein said cylindrical second housing member has a tailing section having gradually reduced diameter so that when said second housing member is moved toward said first housing member, said tailing section contracts a rear portion of said elastic member, thus pressing said rear portion against said cable.

7. The waterproof device according toclaim 5, wherein said second housing member is provided with a rearwardly facing step and said third housing member is provided with a forwardly facing step such that said rearwardly facing step abuts against said forwardly facing step to engage said second and third housing members.

8. The waterproof device according toclaim 5, wherein said second housing member is provided with a rearwardly facing section and said third housing member is provided with an abutment face extending toward a center such that said rearwardly facing section abuts against said abutment face to engage said second and third housing members.

9. The waterproof device according toclaim 1, wherein said second housing member is provided with waterproof means for closing a gap between said first and second housing member.

10. The waterproof device according toclaim 9, wherein said waterproof means is a ring shaped member fitted in a groove provided in a front portion of said second housing member.

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